If they ever do a remake of An Officer and a Gentleman, it should surely star the chivalrous General Antonio Taguba, who feels that the innocent eyes of Americans and the world should be shielded from seeing photos that confirm acts of rape and abuse that are included in his 2004 report about Abu Ghraib. He told The Telegraph (UK) that,

At least one picture shows an American soldier apparently raping a female prisoner while another is said to show a male translator raping a male detainee.

Further photographs are said to depict sexual assaults on prisoners with objects including a truncheon, wire and a phosphorescent tube.

Another apparently shows a female prisoner having her clothing forcibly removed to expose her breasts.

However, Taguba supports President Obama’s decision not to release the photos:

“I am not sure what purpose their release would serve other than a legal one and the consequence would be to imperil our troops, the only protectors of our foreign policy, when we most need them, and British troops who are trying to build security in Afghanistan.

“The mere description of these pictures is horrendous enough, take my word for it.”

So no, General Taguba, we will not take your word for it because indeed the whole point here is that American and international laws were broken and atrocities were committed. And it is not acceptable to pin the blame only on the soldiers in the field. The true blame lies with the officers and Commander in Chief who gave the orders and allowed this to happen. And if releasing these pictures endangers troops, then the questions that need to be asked are why they continue to be there in the first place and and why we are now being told they could stay for another ten years.

If we truly believe in democracy, the photos must be released, the perpetrators brought to justice and in response to the will of the people, the troops brought home now.